’Hounds give Warriors all they can handle

By ANDREA MOSQUEDA
Special to the NEWS

Hounds“Nikki Rowe may be number one in District, but the boys know that if we just focus on our own game, everything else will fall into place,” said San Benito Greyhounds head basketball coach, Eddie Abrego, before Tuesday night’s game against the Warriors.

Abrego’s sentiments rang true in the first quarter, when intense man-to-man defense and quick-paced offense earned the ’Hounds the lead. After a Warrior free throw on a hard foul, Christian Sierra of San Benito put the team in the lead with the first three-point shot of the night at 6:11. A left-handed layup by Cruz Guzman of San Benito followed up with a spectacular shot, bringing the ’Hounds’ lead to seven and the score to 16-9 as the quarter ended.

The second quarter was quick and efficient as ’Hounds and Warriors both juggle the lead between them. After a series of exchanges, Guzman sank a three-pointer that takes the ’Hounds to an eight-point lead while Jason Lopez quickly followed up with a jumper. The ’Hounds reach a double-digit lead at 12 points after another three-point shot found its mark, this time from Sierra at 3:36, but after two free throws Nikki Rowe brought the lead down to 10.

The Warriors then rallied to bring the score to a 29-29 tie with as the buzzer sounded.

A heated exchange after a loose ball led to pulling opposing team members apart as the third quarter began. A three-pointer gives Nikki Rowe the lead at 6:15, and from there, both teams continued to exchange leads. Nikki Rowe’s defense consisted mainly of shadowing, and its offense often tied the score, but the ’Hounds would not let up. The score remained at 39-39 tie as the quarter ended.

Stomping and chanting reminiscent of a battle cry filled the air as Warrior fans made their presence known in the final quarter. San Benito’s effective defense was put to the test this quarter, and the referees are called to break up a skirmish late in the game as the ’Hounds and Warriors go down swinging for every last point. Tempers indeed flared as players were booted from the game and tension escalated as the clock ticked closer to 0.

With 6:13 left in the game, Nikki Rowe steals the lead with a two-point shot. It was a lead the Warriors never relinquished as the buzzer signaled the end of the game. Nikki Rowe earned a first-place District 31-5A title, defeating the ’Hounds with a final score of 57-42.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2013/01/23/hounds-give-warriors-all-they-can-handle/

1 comment

  1. GREAT JOB BOYS..KEEP IT UP!!! GOOD TEAM WORK ,IT WAS AN INTENSE AWESOME GAME!!!!

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